It can be extremely frustrating when you are trying your best, yet someone in your life can’t help but point out your flaws.
Is there a term for such a person in English?
Below, we’ve compiled a list of great words for a person who is always finding fault.
So, read on!
Words for a Person Who Finds Faults in Everything
- Captious
- Carper
- Faultfinder
- Caviller
- Nitpicker
- Grouser
- Faultfinder
- Cynic
- Judgmental
- Critical
- Pessimistic
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- A person who constantly objects to ideas or points out our flaws is “captious.”
- A “carper” finds things to complain about for no real reason.
- “Faultfinder” is a term used in psychology to refer to someone who points out other people’s shortcomings out of spite.
Don’t go anywhere! In the next section, we’ll discuss our top three terms for a person who finds faults in everything.
Moreover, we’ll use each of our choices in some helpful example sentences.
Captious
“Captious” is one word for a person who finds fault in everything.
In fact, Merriam-Webster defines it as “marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections.”
This term has fairly negative connotations. After all, it stems from the Latin word “captiosus” meaning “fallacious” and usually implies that someone has a personality flaw.
Namely, they can’t help but critique things that don’t really matter.
Have a look at how we’ve used this term in some example sentences:
No one in this department wants to work with that captious woman from upstairs.
I found myself becoming captious and I knew that I must be getting hungry.
Carper
A good adjective for someone who always finds something to complain about is “carper.”
Merriam-Webster defines “carp” as “to find fault or complain querulously.”
Therefore, if someone makes a habit of finding fault in everything they see or come across, you can call them a “carper.”
It is believed that the word “carp” comes from the Latin term “carpere” meaning to “slander” or “revile” or, literally, to “pluck.”
This is another word with negative connotations. You would use it to critique a person for behaving in a petulant and fussy manner.
To see what we mean, consider the examples below:
Must we really visit John? He’s a relentless carper.
She’s a bit of a carper, but I must say, I find her constant gripes quite amusing.
Faultfinder
In psychology, the word for someone who obsessively points out flaws in other people is “faultfinder.”
Merriam-Webster defines “faultfinding” as “captiously critical” and “petty, nagging, or unreasonable criticism.”
In short, a “faultfinder” is someone who complains constantly and judges other people harshly over trivial matters. They are also very demanding of the people in their life.
“Faultfinders” are seen as rather spiteful, and it often seems as if they derive some enjoyment from criticizing others and starting disputes. Almost like a game!
Moreover, some people turn to faultfinding at work for strategic reasons.
Essentially, they believe that pointing out your errors or faults around your boss or other superiors will reflect well on them.
In reality, they are probably doing themselves a disservice by being unpleasant.
Finally, let’s see the term “faultfinder” in a couple of example sentences:
There’s no point asking Jed’s opinion; he’s a notorious faultfinder.
Ever the faultfinder, Marial would probably arrive in heaven and criticize the interior design.